Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom), long used in traditional medicine, has recently gained substantial scientific attention due to its diverse pharmacological activities. While numerous preclinical studies exist, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of its molecular mechanisms continues to hinder clinical translation. This review summarises current evidence on the antitumour, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of I obliquus, with emphasis on the underlying cellular pathways. The pharmacological activity of Chaga is mediated by a complex array of bioactive compounds that collectively induce apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in cancer cells, modulate the complement system, suppress pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages and enhance antioxidant defence mechanisms. These effects result from multifactorial and often synergistic interactions with key signalling cascades, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K/Akt pathways. Although experimental data are promising, the translation of I obliquus from a traditional remedy into standardised therapeutic formulations is constrained by chemical variability and a lack of robust clinical validation. Continued multidisciplinary research is essential to elucidate its pharmacological potential and to position Chaga as a valuable source of novel therapeutic agents in modern medicine.
Osipova et al. (Thu,) studied this question.